Tony Roma's — Restaurant in Edmonton

I came here one evening with my spouse and another couple for a double date. (The restaurant was mostly empty, there was maybe 5 tables with patrons). Our server came by after a bit of waiting and took our drink order. We explained that we wanted to order appetizers too and she seemed a bit confused that we would do it at the same time but finally took the order.

We waited for a while before she finally came back with the drinks and we placed our order. Person 1 - Filet Medallions, rare. Person 2, fettuccini alfredo something, Person 3 - One of the burger meals, Person 4 - Filet Medallions, well done (no comments on preference - people like what they like).

The appetizers that came out a little slow but they were fine. While we're eating the appetizers a manager comes out and asks to talk to person 1. It turns out that while cooking the order they cooked the filet medallions to well done and had no more on hand so asked if they would like something else. They were hoping for this but settled on getting another form of steak.

The food finally comes out (seemed a little long of a wait, again, but we did not comment). Person 4's meal ended up being rare/medium rare. We tried to flag down someone and eventually got a response 5+ minutes later. We explained that they were still rare and not well done as requested, we also asked why if these were rare and the others well done why they would not have just switched the two. (how they could cook one set well done and leave the other rare while attempting to fully cook - we don't know). The server asked the person what they wanted them to do about it... Person 4 responded that they wanted their meal as requested and that it was not cooked. The server asked so do you want me to cook it more or something? They person said yes, please.

While waiting for the kitchen to cook the meal, the rest of the table was able to eat their food (no point making them wait and their food cold because of this). The manager comes back out and comes to the table to ask what's wrong. We explain the above again and she goes "oh that's so weird i don't know how that happened. They were definitely cooked well done, are you sure they were rare?" Person 4 confirmed, and the table agreed as they could all see the bright red interior of the medallions when they arrived. The manager then just stares for half a moment and turns and walks away. The table finishes eating and the server comes out to clean up 1 of the plates of food, then comes back with the re-cooked meal (20+min). Person 4 cuts into it, and it is now medium/medium well. The manager came by to see if it was cooked and looked at it and says well they tried to cook it. Then asked if the person still wanted it or if they would like to order something else instead.

Now being that the rest of the 3 people had finished their meals and we had somewhere else to be as well, this was not possible nor would it be polite to the others, the person declined and said that no they would not like to do that as we did not have time to remain there. She then walked away.

Eventually a different manager or owner came by and offered 50% off for the affected meal.

We came here because we knew that Tony Roma's had shut down many locations and did not know this one still existed. Person 4 had many memories of this restaurant (different location) and persuaded the group to eat here that evening. Irony at it's finest.

TLDR: Staff is slow and unknowledgeable, kitchen staff don't understand how to cook all items on the menu. Some management are equally unknowledgeable, but, the appetizers were good. So I'll give them that.

Had higher hopes for this place and for what is a fairly easy menu...

If you value your sanity, money, or even the faint hope of enjoying a meal, avoid Tony Roma’s on 100 Ave like it’s radioactive waste.

From the second I walked in, the air was thick with hostility. The managers, who also happen to be the Indian owners (stating this only as a descriptor, not in a derogatory way), don’t “run” the restaurant so much as patrol it like prison wardens, scanning for any tiny thing they can pounce on. They nitpick staff into the ground, bark orders loud enough for customers to hear, and treat people with a level of condescension that makes your blood boil. I actually overheard one of them snap at a server, “Do it how I said, not how you think,” and another mutter, “This isn’t hard — just listen.” Even the smallest interactions are dripping with impatience and superiority, making the whole place feel hostile and uncomfortable to be in.

It’s painfully clear they have no clue how to run a restaurant. Leadership? Nonexistent. Professionalism? Not a chance. Their entire management style is built on intimidation, micromanaging, and public humiliation.

This isn’t my first bad run-in here, either. On a previous visit, I raised a very real issue with my food. The owner-manager brushed past it with the fakest “sorry” I’ve ever heard, immediately shifted the blame onto me, and made it crystal clear that in their mind, customers are the problem, not their food, service, or behaviour. The arrogance was astounding.

The food? A total afterthought. My ribs were lukewarm, rubbery, and tasted like they’d been reheated for the third time that day. The sides were bland, limp, and sad enough to make you lose your appetite.

This place doesn’t just fail at customer service, it fails at basic respect for human beings. If this is how the owners treat paying guests and their own staff right out in the open, I don’t even want to imagine what goes on behind those kitchen doors. An absolute disgrace to the industry and a very sad thing to see. One of the most unpleasant restaurant experiences you could possibly have...

I know why Tony Roma's is failing in the Edmonton market. The food was only okay, nothing special. The service was poor and the value was worse. I went on a Sunday so maybe they were intentionally understaffed, no hostess. I don't care about a hostess one way or another but if the waitress is supposed to seat you it shouldn't take four minutes to be seated. Our waitress spent four minutes visiting with the one customer table she had to serve, they were already eating, instead of checking to see if any new customers had arrived. Also had a Skip the Dishes driver waiting to pick up his order, he was there before us so who knows how long he was waiting. Maybe think twice before ordering Tony Roma's through a food delivery app. When she seated us she rushed us to order so we didn't have time to really peruse the menu. My companion knew what she wanted so she ordered her riblets lunch special. This was okay value for $11.00 for two strips of riblets. I am not a big fan of ribs so I had the southwest chicken special. The riblets were good according to what my companion said but my chicken was nothing to write home about. Just okay but the piece of chicken was about three ounces. The amount of fries I got with my meal was about the same quantity as a SMALL order of McDonald's fries, if even that much. The coleslaw came in what I would call a condiment cup, about two ounces. It had me wondering why they bothered to dirty a dish to serve this salad at all. I would rate the priciness of this restaurant at three dollar signs. I don't necessarily mind the small quantities as it is a lunch special but not for $11.00. I can get as healthy a meal, far better tasting and way more value at just about any fast food joint, never mind a competitive sit down table service restaurant. Our coffees were extra, which is not unusual, but for almost $30.00 this meal lacked in quality and quantity. Tony Roma's is okay if you want ribs but don't bother looking for anything else here. Definitely do not...